Apple scores big in report by magazine

DR. MAC

I just received my copy of the November issue of Consumer Reports, which is the big electronics issue covering digital audio players, computers and more.

Because millions of buyers turn to Consumer Reports prior to making a major purchase, it's a big deal when the magazine raves about a product. So I'm pleased to report that Apple's iPod, Macintosh computers, technical support and shopping experience were all rated highly in the November issue.

If you're not familiar with Consumer Reports, it's published by an independent nonprofit organization to test products and inform consumers about them. It accepts no advertising, and, unlike most publications, does not accept free samples for review. Its testing and research center is the largest nonprofit educational and consumer product testing center in the world, and it surveys millions of readers to accurately report on product reliability.

The magazine describes iPods as "the leaders in ease of use, styling, size, and choice of accessories."

As for the Mac, the MacBook Pro was top-rated in both the 15-inch and 17-inch "workhorse laptop" categories, and the MacBook was the highest rated in the 12.1- to 13.3-inch "slim and light models" category. The 17-inch MacBook Pro was Consumer Reports' Quick Pick laptop for "best desktop replacement," and was praised for its "great design, display, and performance."

The technical support ratings, which were culled from a survey of 12,319 subscribers, also favored Apple.The company was rated No. 1 for both desktop and laptop computers.

Apple received the highest rating across the board in all three categories — problem solving, support staff and waiting on the phone — for desktops and laptops.

When it comes to buying a computer, Apple again received the highest marks. These ratings were derived from a survey of 81,941 subscribers and covered both purchasing direct and through retailers.

By the way, the November issue of Consumer Reports also features extensive reporting on flat-screen TVs, digital cameras, home theatre audio systems, and more. If you're considering the purchase of any of these items, the November issue will almost certainly save you time and money.